They are known for their music, but Jack White and Alicia Keys have just made film history by recording the next Bond film theme song as a duet.

The White Stripes frontman and Grammy-award-winning soul singer’s tune Another Way To Die will accompany the much-anticipated but awfully monikered Quantum Of Solace, which is due to open later this year.

The efforts of Keys and White, who wrote the track, will become the 22nd Bond theme tune recorded but the first ever duet.

Bond producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said: "We are delighted and pleased to have two such exciting artists as Jack and Alicia, who were inspired by our film to join together their extraordinary talents in creating a unique sound for Quantum Of Solace."

The high-profile Americans were handed the prestigious job after producer de jour Mark Ronson publicly announced that he had pulled the plug on Amy Winehouse’s attempt to pen the theme.

Diplomatically explaining the troubled tabloid favourite’s attempt, Ronson said: “We did work on it but we never finished it. I don’t think it will happen unless by some miracle it gets recorded and someone sings on it. I’m not sure Amy is ready to work."

Previous performers of the Bond theme tune include Dame Shirley Bassey, Madonna, Sir Paul McCartney and Wings, Tom Jones, Lulu, Garbage, Tina Turner, Carly Simon, Duran Duran, Nancy Sinatra and Sheryl Crow.

But White and Keys hold their own against their famous predecessors. The White Stripes became one of the world’s best known rock bands and critics’ darlings after releasing White Blood Cells in 2001. White’s latest band The Raconteurs have met with similar acclaim, receiving a clutch of Grammy nominations to go with The White Stripe’s three gongs.

Keys stormed to instant stardom after releasing Songs In A Minor, famously dominating the 2002 Grammys by scooping five awards. She’s sold 20 million albums since and occupied the top spot on the US charts several times.

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